Lunch break at Western high school, Cafeteria.
“What strength came over you to have done that to Vanessa? She’s still in the clinic,” Declan asked, and wiped his mouth with a tissue paper.
“She deserved it. She really messed with Tiffy,” Zoey answered instead.
“I’m sure Anny had run her mouth,” Aiden added and drank from the glass cup.
“So, are you siding with her?” Tiffany raised a brow and dropped her fork.
“No, I’m just saying my baby is great. Besides, I’m so glad you’re back to yourself,” Aiden leaned closer with a smile.
“Me too! Now, she’s the only bîtch I can call over to hide a déàd body with,” Zoey laughed.
“Fûck you,” Tiffany hissed.
“By the way, did you like the surprise we gave you, Miss Han,” Declan stared at Tiffany.
“What surprise?”
“Han Tiffany?” catching on, Zoey bang the table.
“Yes, baby!” Declan gave her a thumbs up.
“Tiffany practically looked around in finding who Han Tiffany was when the attendance was called,” Zoey laughed.
“Fûck, it sounded too foreign to me!” Tiffany laughed also.
“How? Is there any other Tiffany in this school?” Aiden asked.
“Not that I’ve noticed,” Declan shrugged his shoulder off.
“Whatever,” Tiffany hissed.
“You’ve been added under our family register already. So, you’re no longer Willow, you’re Han,” Declan informed.
“I’ve heard you,” Tiffany twitched her mouth.
“Exam is starting next month, the test starts next week,” Zoey sighed.
“So?” Tiffany frowned.
“It’s just a reminder. You guys should prepare,” Zoey said, and signed again.
“Grade 12 are not taking the exam. You guys should be the ones to prepare,” Declan said.
All of a sudden, from the entrance of the cafeteria, the students stood from their seats, screaming which made everyone including Aiden, Declan, Zoey, and Tiffany turn to check what was going on.
“That’s Xyler… and Xyler?” Declan’s voice trailed off.
“Xyler and his twin brother,” Aiden confirmed with a shaking brow.
“Fûck, the resemblance is uncanny,” Zoey muttered under her breath as Xyler and Skyler stopped by their table.
“Hi,” one of the greeted, and the four of them kept mute.
“Which of you is Xyler?” Declan raised his brows.
As if the striking resemblance was not enough, the two of them had the same hairstyles and color, they wore the same pants but different shirts. There’s no way anyone could tell them apart.
“Me. I am Xyler,” Xyler answered with a smile.
“Their resemblance is too creepy,” Tiffany said to Zoey which the twins obviously heard clearly.
“You shouldn’t have them then,” Xyler hissed.
“There’s no way I’m having twins for kids also,” she retorted.
“There’s no way they’re going to you even if you want,” Xyler mocked.
“Hehehe. Even if they come, I’d prefer smiling kids. The two of you look like zombies that just got infected. You’re both frowny,” she snorted.
“Whatever, people fall for that anyway,” Xyler stuck his tongue out.
“People that are blind,” Tiffany hissed.
“Fûck, Tiffy!” Zoey nudged her.
“What? Can’t you see that he picked on me first?” Tiffany pouts.
“Now, it’s Xyler,” Declan laughed.
“You two should grab chairs and join us,” Aiden breathed out.
*
“I had wondered why you didn’t come to school, didn’t know you wanted to throw a surprise. Well, you got everyone’s attention,” Declan smirked.
“That’s not my plan at all. I wasn’t going to come today, but Skyler wanted to meet you guys,” Xyler said.
“Uhm, hi,” Skyler waved his hand anxiously.
“People like him are monsters deep down,” Zoey whispered to Tiffany’s ear.
“I agree,” Tiffany mouthed, and resumed eating her food pretentiously so that she wouldn’t have to leave the table for them.
There’s no way she can hear them from afar anymore.
“Can we leave the table? We’d like to talk to you guys privately,” Xyler pressed his lips together and glanced at Tiffany who threw him a kîller glare.
“What are you going to say that we don’t know about,” Zoey scratched her jaw, her words almost inaudible.
“I wonder,” Tiffany hissed.
“Okay, let’s leave,” Aiden laughed and Tiffany kicked his leg which made the guy wince.
He turned to look at her and she gave him a ‘we wanna hear everything.’ look.
“Noooo,” Aiden mouthed and laughed.
“I hate you!” Tiffany pouts and Aiden laughed, the others at the table also chuckling at her childishness.
“Let’s go to the lounge,” Declan said and stood up.
“Tiffy, let’s leave,” Zoey banged the table and stood up.
“Sure,” Tiffany stood up slowly.
“I didn’t know you had the childishness spirit in you,” Xyler shook his head.
“Hey!” Tiffany and Zoey snapped and Xyler raised his hands, nodding his head.
==
In the lounge.
“How did you know about me and Aiden to have thought of pinning it on us?” Declan asked after they had all settled in the lounge.
“I was told by the guys that you saved Luna from them. They felt challenged by you guys and looked into you,” Skyler answered, his palm clasped together.
“Woah, that’s…” Aiden shook his head.
“I’m sorry,” Skyler pressed his lips together.
“I’m sorry for everything I did to hurt you guys one way or the other and I swear I wish I could turn back the clock,” he added.
“It’s fine, or what else do we say to this?” Declan sighed and clapped his hands together.
“I’m sorry,” Skyler whispered.
The door suddenly burst open and Vanessa barged in, her head wrapped in a bandage, “Aiden!” she screamed as she fully entered.
“Do you have any…” she trailed off as her eyes met with Xyler, and… another Xyler?
“She’s the girl,” Xyler leaned closer to Skyler and whispered to him.
“Hi,” Skyler stood up nervously.
“What?” Vanessa creased her brows.
“I’m Skyler,” he said and when Vanessa didn’t say anything and only nods her head, he continued.
“I’m sorry for what happened.”
Okay, now, she’s getting confused.
What is it to the guy about what happened?
The shît that happened was between her and that àsshôlé, Xyler.
Why was he apologizing on his brother’s behalf?
Ever since she had returned, Xyler had never for once apologize about what happened, so why was he doing that instead?
“It wasn’t Xyler. It was me,” he said finally.
“What?” Vanessa snapped out of her thought.
“That night… what happened… it was me. It wasn’t Xyler. I was the one…” he didn’t get to finish his sentence before Vanessa turned swiftly, reached out for the door, and dashed out, slamming the door hard behind him.
Not wasting any time, Skyler ran after him.
“He shouldn’t have said anything,” Declan sighed.
“Skyler wouldn’t sit still. Ever since he had opened up to me, he had always talked about her, and I know the guilt is eating him up more than anything,” Xyler said.
“Huh, your brother?” Declan twitched his mouth in disbelief.
“Yes,” Xyler nods his head.
After a few seconds of silence, Xyler coughed, “DAX forever?”
Aiden and Declan turned to look at each other and shrugged their shoulder off.
“No secrets anymore,” Declan said.
“Sure.”
“Then let’s do this again,” Aiden smiled.
After a few minutes, the door opened and Skyler entered panting.
“She left… in a cab.”
===
Next day, western high school.
Morning gathering.
“You guys might be and might not be aware of the rumors that have been circulating. A competition has been sponsored in our school and only five professions are taking place that day. The five include, Archery, singing, weight lifting, fencing, and swimming. Registration ends in two weeks and the competition starts on the fifth of December. The winner or winners of each profession wins a scholarship to any college of their choice and a five thousand dollar prize. Sounds catchy, right?”
===
Lunch break.
DAX lounge.
The competition the dean had talked about in the morning has been the talk of all day.
Everyone wants to compete.
“Babe, the competition, it sounds great, right?” Zoey leaned closer to Declan.
“Yes, but no,” Declan flashed her a smile and stood up.
“What do you think, Aiden?” she asked Aiden who was combing Tiffany’s hair.
“Uhm, it’s not bad,” he nods his head.
“How ’bout you, Tiffy?” She grinned.
“It’s not bad,” Tiffany answered.
“You think it’s great too, right, Xyler?” She asked and the guy who was browsing through his phone only smiled and nods his head.
“So, I have a suggestion,” Zoey clapped her hands together and placed them under her jaw.
“No, baby, no,” Declan shook his head and opened the lid of the bottled juice he had gone to get.
“Let’s join the competition,” she grinned.
“Fûck, what?!” Declan and Aiden burst out with widened eyes.
TBC…